Deadly Collapse at Zamboye Gold Mine

A gold mine collapse in the village of Zamboye, in the Nana-Mambere prefecture of the Central African Republic, near the border with Cameroon, has left dozens dead and many more missing. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the artisanal mining site, approximately 50 kilometres from the town of Baboua.

Initial reports from officials and survivors indicated at least 30 bodies had been pulled from the collapsed mine. Souleymane Bi, deputy mayor of Nana-Mambere prefecture, said rescuers and residents recovered 30 bodies over several hours and that injured miners were receiving treatment. A local civil servant, Laurent Ngon Baba, told AFP that about 40 people had died, adding, "It is difficult for us to establish a formal toll at this stage."

However, as rescue efforts continued, the death toll rose. By Wednesday, the Mines Ministry had given a provisional official toll of 49, including 34 Central Africans, 13 Cameroonians, and two Chadians. Seven injured people were taken to hospital in Baboua. The minister, Rufin Benam-Beltoungou, visited the site and put the official figure at 49.

But local officials, Red Cross volunteers, and mining representatives reported more than 100 deaths. Gervais Ganagoro, a Red Cross volunteer, said more than 100 bodies had been recovered, and Bertrand Be Yangué, a member of the Zamboye youth council, said the toll was likely to rise. "Finding them alive would be a miracle," Yangué said. "We are saddened and heartbroken to see young men and women perish after coming to the mines to save their families from despair."

by Friday, the toll had reportedly reached 107, according to the AFP news agency, which quoted rescue officials. The discrepancy between official and local figures remained unresolved, with witnesses and relatives reporting around 100 deaths.

Rescue and Investigation

Rescue operations continued for days, but hopes of finding survivors faded. Jérémie Ngbiri, a miner at the site who lost his brother and a friend, said, "The rescue effort is being organized, but it is not up to the task." He described seeing victims suffocate during rescue attempts. Recovery was hampered by limited equipment and expertise, and heavy rains had flooded lower sections of the pit, making the work dangerous. Access to the mine was barred on Thursday, and rescue operations were suspended due to continued collapse and rain.

Authorities opened a judicial investigation into the cause of the collapse, the identification of victims, and those responsible for operating the site. The prosecutor at the Baboua sub-prefecture court said the collapse was caused by the failure of several underground tunnels in which miners were operating. The investigation would also examine potential criminal liability.

Government spokesman Evariste Ngamana expressed sympathy for the victims' families and said authorities were "working hard to provide relief and assistance." The Mines Ministry warned miners about unsafe practices and ordered the temporary closure of the mine.

Calls for Accountability and Reform

The disaster has triggered calls for greater oversight of mining operations. Samuel Nguiffo, director of the Centre for Environment and Development, told RFI that the scale of the disaster was unprecedented. "This accident was a wakeup call not only for the authorities but also the companies that buy the gold," he said. "They will be obliged to invest to improve the working conditions."

Local residents said nearly 500 people were working at the open-pit mine, many of them young people hoping to earn money before the new school year. The mine, known locally as "Moscow-RCA," is one of many artisanal operations in the region that function with limited safety equipment and oversight.

Opposition leaders in Cameroon, where many of the victims came from, have demanded accountability. Martin Ziguélé called for a parliamentary inquiry, saying the government bears direct responsibility. Maurice Kamto accused "the inhumanity of those who grow rich" from illegal mining. Roger Justin Noah, secretary-general of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, condemned mismanagement and cited financial consequences of more than 4,000 billion CFA francs.

Dele Alake, chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group, described the incident as a tragedy and called for stronger regulation and formalisation of artisanal mining. "Behind every statistic about illegal mining are human beings," Alake said. "We owe the victims of Zamboye more than our condolences. We owe them action."

Regional Context and Previous Disasters

Mine collapses are common in the Central African Republic, where thousands of people depend on small-scale extraction. A June collapse at the Be-Mbari gold mining site killed dozens. In March, a landslide at Ngourroum killed seven people, and in February, 20 people died at a site in Gordi. The Cameroonian government adopted a new mining code in 2023 and says more than 200 companies are mining without permits.